Hollywood movies set sales record

The Dark Knight was highest grossing American film in 2008

American-made films earned a record amount in ticket sales around the world in 2008, says an industry body.

Global box office takings rose 5% to reach an all time high of $28.1bn (£19.5bn), according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

2008 saw the release of new Batman, James Bond and Indiana Jones films, plus the new Twilight franchise.

However, the number of people going to the cinema in America dropped slightly in 2008 amid rising ticket prices.

The group behind the figures says they prove people still turn to the movies in times of economic trouble because admissions at the end of the year in America were up from 2007 levels.

Figures from another group, Media by Numbers, appear to back up the trend, stating that the first 10 weeks of 2009 has seen North American box office income shoot up by 12% on the previous year.

Dan Glickman, chairman of the MPAA said it all showed "movies can still be counted on to boost people's spirits as well as the economy."

Independents rise

The MPAA is the voice of major studios like 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. It said bigger film companies released 27 fewer films in 2008, whilst independents released 38 more.

The organisation also reported a drop in US-produced films during the year, putting it down to economic problems and issues over staffing caused by the four-month long writers' strike which ended in February 2008.

The group usually gives out figures showing how much the films cost to make and market, a cost which has been on the rise in recent years.

However, a spokesperson for the organisation said the data was so complicated that it was "useless and misleading" and they would not be releasing it this year.